State of Conservation (SOC)
Ichkeul National Park (1989)
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds
International Assistance granted to the property
Requests Approved: 0
(from1981-1989)
Total Amount Ap proved: 50,000USD
| 1989 | Financial contribution to the preparation of exhibits for the ... | 20,000 USD |
| 1981 | Study on Ichkeul National Park | 30,000 USD |
Missions**
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Construction of dams; hunting; grazing and air pollution
Corrective Measures
Current conservation issues
Although the integrity of the wetlands of this park remains in doubt due to the increasing interruption of fresh water inflow, there have been several improvements to management in the past year. These include the opening of a visitor centre, the institution of some controls on cattle grazing and the hiring of additional staff. These are all commendable initiatives.
However, the main exercise to build the Tindja sluice to control water flow has still not been completed. This is the single most important activity that is needed and will also require a major effort to train specialized staff in its operation (funds are available for this through IWRB). Work on two other drainage canals as recommended in the Ramsar Convention monitoring report has not commenced.
Conclusion
The Committee may wish to give further encouragement to the Tunisian authorities to step up efforts to implement these plans.
Decision
13COMVIII.16
Link to the decision
Ichkeul National Park (Tunisia)
The Committee decided to encourage Tunisia in its efforts to seek financial resources to undertake activities such as the building of the Tindja sluice and two other drainage canals to ensure maintenance of the integrity of the wetlands critical to the values of this site. At the same time, the Committee agreed that the Tunisian authorities should be congratulated on improvements to the site's management consequent on completion of the visitors' centre, institution of controls on cattle grazing and additional staffing.
No draft Decision
Ichkeul National Park
TunisiaExports
Word File Threats*
- Water infrastructure
- Air pollution
- Livestock farming/grazing of domesticated animals
- Subsistence hunting
- Water
- Other Threats:
Documents
SC.89/CONF.003/02SC.89/CONF.004/05
Other Documents:
View inscribed site documents, nomination file, reports, decisions, ...SOC ID: 1595
Inscription on the Danger List
Year: 1996 -2006Threats to the Site:
The Park was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger during the 20th session of the Committee (1996) as a result of significant deterioration in the characteristics for which the site was inscribed.
The construction of three dams on rivers supplying Lake Ichkeul and its marshes has cut off almost all inflow of fresh water, causing a destructive increase in the salinity of the lake and marshes.
Reed beds, sedges and other fresh-water plant species have been replaced by halophytic plants, with a consequent sharp reduction in the migratory bird populations dependent on the habitat the lake formerly provided. According to IUCN, all reed-dependent species such as purple heron, purple gallinule and reed warblers have disappeared.
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
